MC-130P COMBAT SHADOW

AFSOC MC-130P (referred to as the HC-130 prior to 1996) were deployed to Saudi Arabia and Turkey in support of Desert Storm. They operated from main bases and remote locations. Their missions included air refueling of special operations forces helicopters over friendly and hostile territory, psychological operations, and leaflet drops.

· Builder: Lockheed

· Power Plant: Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines

· Thrust: 4,910 shaft horsepower each engine

· Length: 98 ft 9 in (30.09 meters)

· Height: 38 ft 6 in (11.7 meters)

· Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.4 meters)

· Speed: 289 miles per hour (at sea level)

· Ceiling: 33,000 ft

· Maximum Takeoff Weight: 155,000

· Range: Beyond 4,000 miles

· Crew: Four officers (pilot, copilot, primary navigator, secondary navigator); four enlisted men (flight engineer, communications systems operator, two loadmasters)

· Air Force Inventory: Active Component 24/Reserve Component 4

 

Mission

The mission of the MC-130P is clandestine formation/single-ship intrusion of hostile territory to provide aerial refueling of special operations helicopters and the infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland operations. To perform these missions, the primary emphasis is on night vision goggle (NVG) operations, but they can be accomplished during the day. The MC-130P primarily flies missions at night to reduce probability of visual acquisition and intercept by airborne threats. Secondary mission capabilities may include airdrop of small special operations teams, small bundles, and combat rubber raiding craft; as well as NVG takeoff and landing procedures, tactical airborne radar approaches, and in-flight refueling as a receiver.

 

Equipment

Some aircraft are currently being modified with the Universal Air Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) system for inflight refueling as a receiver and all aircraft are modified with the self-contained navigation systems (SCNS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). The Special Operations Forces Improvement (SOFI) modification will give the aircraft an NVG HUD, a new modified radar, and a Infrared Detection System (IDS). These modifications will greatly increase the range and navigational accuracy of the MC-130 P. The aircraft normally carries eight crewmembers. Depending on mission profile and duration, additional crewmembers are carried. All crewmembers are NVG/formation and helicopter air refueling qualified. Special qualifications include high altitude low opening (HALO) airdrop, NVG airland, formation lead, inflight refueling (IFR), and Rigging Alternate Method Zodiac (RAMZ).

 

The following equipment is installed on the MC-130P:

· Inflight refueling system for helicopters

· Inflight refueling, receiver operations (UARRSI)

· Internal fuel tanks (Benson tanks)

· Airborne radar (APN-59D); APN-59E improved radar (SOFI aircraft)

· IFF Radar

· Self Contained Navigation System (SCNS)

· Doppler radar navigation system (APN-147); Doppler velocity sensor (SOFI aircraft)

· Radar warning receiver (ALR-69); ALR-69(V) (SOFI aircraft)

· Chaff and flare dispensers (ALE-40)

· Infrared Missile Warning Receiver (IRWR) (SOFI aircraft)

· Secure Speech (KY-58/75) UHF, VHF, VHF-FM, HF and SATCOM radios with HAVE QUICK II capability

· KY-879 data burst capability

· Night Vision Goggles (F4949)

· NVG Heads-Up Display (SOFI aircraft)

· Nose mounted Infrared Detection System (SOFI aircraft)

 

Employment

The MC-130P employs night terrain contour (NTC) procedures. NTC missions are flown in VMC using NVGs. The profile is flown at 500 feet above ground level using terrain masking. If necessary, the mission can be flown with visual and electronic-controlled emissions. The range of the mission depends on several factors: length of time on the low-level route, enroute weather, winds, and the air refueling offload requirements (see Planning Factors). Portions of the profile may be flown at high altitude to minimize fuel consumption. NTC procedures will be used to avoid enemy detection in a non-permissive environment to get the aircraft to the objective area.

 

Formation

The MC-130P normally flies in a formation of aircraft to provide the capability of multiple simultaneous refueling of large helicopter formations. An airborne spare tanker is also a part of the formation.

 

Air Refueling

This is the primary mission of the MC-130P. To significantly decrease the amount of time required to refuel helicopters, the MC-130P can simultaneously refuel two helicopters. Minimum refueling altitude is 1,000 ft AGL for training. For operational missions, lower altitudes may be used. Refueling is accomplished on NVGs.

 

Airdrops

The MC-130P airdrop personnel or equipment. The drop zone point of impact (PI) must be marked. The location, size, and marking of drop zones must conform with AFI 13-217.

· Release point computation. Normally the navigator determines the release point using

manual Computed Air Release Point (CARP) procedures, parachute ballistic data, and wind effects. He visually directs the pilot to the release point. Alternate methods of deployments include Visual Ground Marked Release System (GMRS), Verbally Initiated Release System (VIRS), jumpmaster directed airdrops, and parabundle and free-fall drop procedures for door bundles.

 

Personnel Drops

The MC-130P can be used for both static line and free-fall jumps.

· Static line low altitude airdrops: 130 KIAS at a minimum of 800 ft AGL.

· The aircraft is not configured to retrieve static lines from the ramp. All static line jumps must be accomplished from the paratroop doors. With two loadmasters, one per door, the maximum number of jumpers that can be deployed is six per door per pass, or 12 per pass with 15 foot static lines, a U-clamp must be used on the anchor cable. The purpose of the U-clamp is to effectively shorten the static line to prevent fouling of the static lines on the external rails of the MC-130P cargo door.

· High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) airdrops are made above 3000 ft AGL where a freefall is planned prior to parachute opening. The navigator will determine the High Altitude Release Point (HARP). High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) airdrops are normally made above 10,000 ft AGL, but with no freefall, in order to travel long distances. Both are flown at 130 KIAS.

 

Equipment Drops

Parabundle and free-fall door bundle drops are aircrew directed at very low altitudes. Parabundles are dropped at 300ft AGL with parachutes, or 150ft AGL without parachutes. Both of these drops are flown at 130 KIAS.

 

Airland

Infiltration and exfiltration may be conducted at overt landing zones. Landing zones and lighting must conform to AFI 13-217. The landing zone should be hard surfaced. Except for contingency/emergency operations, runway lengths less than 3000 feet will not be used.

· Minimum runway width is 60 feet.

· Minimum taxiway width is 30 feet.

· Runway lighting must be available. (CAN BE COVERT)

 

Planning Factors and Considerations

· Twelve hours of crew rest prior to flight is required once all planning is completed.

· Three hours are required prior to takeoff for briefings, final planning, aircraft preflight checks, engine start, taxi and takeoff.

· Most missions are 5 to 6 hrs in duration, to include 3 to 4 hrs of low-level.

· Load capabilities are dependent on aircraft configuration and fuel load.

 

Crew Duty Day

· 12 hours training

· 16 hours operational

· 22 hours augmented. (Requires one additional Aircraft Commander, Navigator, Flight Engineer, and Communications Specialist for overwater flights in excess of 16 hours)

 

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